Aliaksei Protas

Aliaksei Uladzimiravich Protas (, ; born 6 January 2001) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Protas previously played two seasons of major junior for the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and was selected 91st overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2019 NHL entry draft. He made his professional debut in 2020 with Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Internationally, Protas has played for the Belarusian national junior team at two World Junior Championships.

Playing career Protas started his career in his hometown of Vitebsk. He moved to Denver, Colorado to play youth hockey for Colorado Evolution for one season before travelling back to Belarus. He spent two seasons with the Belarus U17 team that played in the Vysshaya Liga, the second league in Belarus, before being selected 26th overall by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2018 CHL Import Draft. He joined the Raiders for the 2018–19 season, and finished with 40 points in 61 games. Heading into the 2019 NHL entry draft Protas was the 30th ranked North American skater, and was selected 91st overall by the Washington Capitals. He played for Prince Albert in 2019–20 season, which was ended prematurely due to COVID-19; in 58 games he had 80 points, which placed him ninth in the WHL in scoring and the highest-scoring European player.

For the 2020–21 season, Protas was loaned to HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). With Minsk's season over, Protas was reassigned to the Hershey Bears, the Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate.

During the 2021–22 NHL season, Protas was called up to the Capitals, and he scored his first career NHL goal on 28 November 2021, during a 4–2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

On 19 January 2024, Protas signed a five-year contract extension with the Capitals, carrying an average annual value of $3.375 million through the 2028–29 season.

On 11 March 2025, Protas recorded his first career hat-trick in a 7–4 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

During the 2024–25 season, Protas set career highs in goals (30), assists (36), and total points (66).

Personal life Protas' younger brother, Ilya, was drafted by the Capitals in the third round of the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Protas and his wife, Tanya, have two daughters, Alisa (born 2023) and Viktoria (born 2026).

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2016–17 Team Belarus U17 BEL-2 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2017–18 Team Belarus U17 BEL-2 49 9 11 20 8 3 1 3 4 0 2018–19 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 61 11 29 40 4 23 12 10 22 6 2018–19 Prince Albert Raiders MC — — — — — 3 0 0 0 2 2019–20 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 58 31 49 80 8 — — — — — 2020–21 Dinamo Minsk KHL 58 10 8 18 4 5 1 3 4 4 2020–21 Hershey Bears AHL 16 2 5 7 2 — — — — — 2021–22 Hershey Bears AHL 42 8 16 24 10 3 0 1 1 0 2021–22 Washington Capitals NHL 33 3 6 9 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Washington Capitals NHL 58 4 11 15 12 — — — — — 2022–23 Hershey Bears AHL 9 2 3 5 0 20 5 8 13 2 2023–24 Washington Capitals NHL 78 6 23 29 8 4 0 2 2 0 2024–25 Washington Capitals NHL 76 30 36 66 18 6 1 1 2 0 2025–26 Washington Capitals NHL 76 25 27 52 20 — — — — — KHL totals 58 10 8 18 4 5 1 3 4 4 NHL totals 321 68 103 171 58 10 1 3 4 0

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2018 Belarus U18 8th 5 1 3 4 0 2019 Belarus WJC-D1 DNQ 5 2 3 5 0 2020 Belarus WJC-D1 DNQ 5 4 3 7 6 2021 Belarus WC 15th 6 0 2 2 0 2022 Belarus OGQ DNQ 3 0 1 1 2 Junior totals 15 7 9 16 6 Senior totals 9 0 3 3 2

Awards and honours Honour Year WHL Ed Chynoweth Cup 2019 First All-Star Team (East) 2020 Belarus 2021 Belarus Cup – Champion 2021AHL Calder Cup 2023